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TNT's NBA VR livestreams begin February 16th
Last November, Intel and TNT announced a partnership to bring 360-degree, 3D broadcasts of NBA games to GearVR and Daydream VR headsets. Now Turner Sports and Intel have officially launched the app that brings an immersive basketball experience via TNT's VR app and powered by Intel's True VR technology. While the current VR app is mainly a Turner Broadcasting initiative, it can only help the NBA expand its audience via the technology.
Nike’s 'PlayStation' shoes make hypebeasts out of gamers
It's not often we see a shoe that appeals to both the sneakerhead and gamer communities. But Nike managed to do exactly that with the PG2, the second signature model of professional basketball player Paul George, which features a design inspired by Sony's PlayStation console and its DualShock controller. Nike says that George, who plays for the NBA's Oklahoma City Thunder, worked closely with PG2 designer Tony Hardman to create an on-court shoe that would represent his love for gaming and, specifically, the PlayStation.
Nike’s ‘PlayStation’ PG2s are like a DualShock for your feet
Nike has never been afraid to use different technologies to experiment with its sneakers. After all, this is the company that brought you the Mag and HyperAdapt, two shoes powered by auto-lacing mechanisms. And while its latest basketball silhouette isn't as tech-forward as those, there's still plenty to like here, especially if you're both a sneakerhead and an avid gamer. Meet the PG2, Paul George's new signature shoe, which Nike created in collaboration with Sony and was inspired by the PlayStation. Sorry, Xbox, maybe next time.
Yahoo Sports teams with NBA on live games, AR and more
Verizon isn't just obsessed with football. The carrier has unveiled an expanded partnership with the NBA that will make basketball games and related content available across Yahoo and "other Verizon media platforms." To start, it's making much ado over NBA League Pass. You'll have the option of buying League Pass on sites like Yahoo Sports, and Verizon's "It's On Us" program will let you preview what you'd get without committing to a purchase. There will be additional material for non-subscribers, too.
Twitch partners with NBA's G League to livestream games
Twitch might be best known for video game live streaming, but the service is starting to eye other properties. Starting December 15th, Twitch will live stream NBA G League games at twitch.tv/nbagleague. The service will broadcast up to six games per week, and they will be available to watch on demand after the live stream has concluded. It's the first time a major sports organization has partnered with Twitch to use its new live stream extensions.
Sacramento Kings to build NBA 2K League training center inside arena
Now that the National Basketball Association has its own eSports initiative with NBA 2K League, it's only a matter of time before various teams jump into the digital arena. Qualifiers start January 1st, with draft rounds planned for March of 2018 for a season that's set to begin in May. Further blurring the lines between real and digital sports, the Sacramento Kings have just announced a new eSports training facility to be housed within the Golden 1 Center pro arena.
NBA 2K eSports league qualifiers start January 1st
If you've been itching for an opportunity to participate in the officially sanctioned NBA 2K League when things get started in earnest this May, you now know what it'll take to pass muster: the eSports competition's Brendan Donahue has confirmed details of the initial qualifying phase. The first stage runs through all of January and is open to any 18-or-older player in the world with a copy of NBA 2K18 for PS4 or Xbox One, whether they're solo or part of a team. To qualify, you'll have to win at least 50 games in the Pro-Am mode and submit an online application before January is over.
Dwyane Wade is the latest athlete to have a show on Facebook
Facebook's next pro athlete-centered show will feature the Cleveland Cavaliers' Dwyane Wade. The five-part series will premiere on November 20th and will show what keeps Wade busy when he's off the court. BackCourt Wade follows the three-time NBA champion as he attends Paris and Milan fashion weeks, tries to learn golf and manages his businesses.
Intel and TNT will give NBA fans another VR streaming option
Intel has announced that it's partnering with Turner Sports to broadcast select NBA on TNT matchups using its True VR technology. Fans will be able to watch 360-degree, 3D broadcasts on both Samsung GearVR and Google Daydream headsets via apps downloaded from the Oculus and Google Play stores. You'll also be able to see more of its Matrix-like "volumetric" freeD video tech that can freeze highlights and spin around them in 360 degrees.
Warriors, Cavaliers owners buy into 'League of Legends' series
As eSports has grown into the arena-filling behemoth it is today, traditional sports has been clamouring for a stake. Talent has been snapped up, tournaments established, and multi-million dollar investments made. The trend looks set to continue with news that two of the NBA's biggest rivals are jumping on the competitive gaming bandwagon. ESPN is reporting that the Cleveland Cavaliers have nabbed a spot in the North American League of Legends Championship Series (LCS).
Snapchat has cute AR foam fingers for you to wave at NBA games
With its 2017-2018 season getting ready to tip off tomorrow, the NBA's been quite busy making tech announcements ahead of it. Not only did it reveal an augmented reality app for the iPhone yesterday, but now it's teaming up with Snap Inc. on a brand new Lens experience for Snapchat. Fans who are at or near an NBA arena this coming year will get access to special Lenses, which let you place a digital foam finger in a physical area around you. As you can see above, the cute character wears team jerseys and can show different emotions that you can share when you send snaps to your friends.
NBA's first AR game lets you pop-a-shot with your iPhone
The NBA's already cranked up its virtual reality output, and now it's taking baby steps into augmented reality too. The league's new iPhone game lets you play virtual pop-a-shot outdoors, which is as straightforward as it sounds. Just download the "NBA AR" app, point your phone at a chosen spot, and start shooting hoops on a virtual backboard and court. You'll have to frantically flick your iPhone, though, as there's a 30-second time limit on each round. When you're done, you can share your high score on social media, iMessage, and email -- and check how you stack up on the in-game leaderboard. NBA AR is available for free right now on the App Store.
NBA will broadcast every game in VR this season
While other broadcasters and sports leagues dabble in virtual reality, the NBA is taking the plunge. It raced ahead of the competition last year by streaming weekly live games in VR. Now, it's making its entire season immersive for League Pass subscribers. With the NextVR app, you'll not only be able to watch 27 live games on your Samsung Gear VR or Google Daydream headset, but you'll also get access to something called the Screening Room. Here you'll be able to pick and choose from every League Pass game in virtual reality. On top of that, the feature will let you select up to 13 NBA games to livestream on a massive virtual screen. And soon, you won't even be restricted to a Samsung, Google, or ASUS phone -- as long as you're willing to invest in a Windows Mixed Reality headset, that is. Yes, Microsoft's VR platform (which is coincidentally arriving just in time for the new NBA season) will support NextVR.
All 30 NBA teams will have their own Alexa skill this season
Amazon's Alexa is already helpful for broadcasting sports scores upon request. For the upcoming NBA season though, the virtual assistant will serve up more detailed information on every team in the league. All 30 teams will have their own Alexa Skills, which means you can ask for things like the date of the next home game, who your teams plays on a specific date, if they're winning, stats leaders, standings and the latest team news.
Nike’s NFC-powered NBA jerseys are a door to exclusive goods
When the National Basketball Association's 2017-2018 season tips off on October 17th, it will mark the beginning of a new era for the league. For the first time in more than a decade, all 30 teams are going to wear Nike uniforms on the court. The company is replacing Adidas as the NBA's main apparel sponsor, after its sportswear rival decided not to renew a deal that had been in place since 2006. Now, as part of Nike's plan to create novel experiences for fans through this partnership, it is launching jerseys from every NBA squad with a technology called "NikeConnect."
The NBA’s big eSports push begins in May 2018
The line between eSports and traditional sports is blurring, and organizations like the National Basketball Association are looking to stay ahead of the curve. Seventeen teams from the NBA will be part of the upcoming 2K League, a competition it created in partnership with Take-Two Interactive, the developer of the popular NBA 2K series. And that league is going to have its first season next May, NBA 2K League Managing Director Brendan Donohue revealed to Engadget in a recent interview.
How Kevin Durant’s attempt to clap back at trolls backfired
What does an NBA champion and Finals MVP have in common with Taylor Swift? In the case of the Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant, it's that internet trolls love calling them snakes. Swift earned that label last year after a feud with Kim Kardashian and husband, Kanye West; for Durant, that scorn came after he decided to leave the Oklahoma City Thunder to join a main Western Conference rival, the Warriors. Since that day, July 4th, 2016, his mentions have been overtaken by angry basketball fans calling him a cupcake, coward, sellout, traitor and, yes, a snake. That's right, a cupcake and a snake.
‘NBA 2K18’ gets emergency patch to fix data-wiping Xbox One bug
2K Sports' latest basketball title, NBA 2K18, had a serious zero day bug that wiped away user progress, items and in-game currency in the online MyCareer mode. While it reportedly only affects players on Xbox One, both console versions are got a patch that supposedly fixed this issue.
Nike's 'NBA Connected' jerseys tap into the game with NFC tags
Nike is the new apparel maker for the NBA and tonight it officially rolled out updated jerseys for the teams. They're specially constructed to keep players cool and allow for freedom of movement, but there's a new feature for fans too. They'll debut the new NikeConnect system, which relies on a mobile app of the same name that reacts to NFC tags embedded in the jerseys. The hook is the ability to unlock "premium content" like "pregame arrival footage, highlight packages and top players' favorite music playlists." One hook that may work for gamers is the inclusion of specific boosts for NBA 2K18 players that are unlocked by buying that player's jersey in real life.
Recommended Reading: The rise and fall of 'Mortal Kombat'
'Mortal Kombat's' 1997 Was the Opposite of a Flawless Victory Matt Gerardi, AV Club The Mortal Kombat franchise was riding high... and then 1997 rolled around. AV Club takes a look at the hot streak before the release of two games and a movie in the fall of that year. All three fell flat. That trio of shortcomings didn't kill the franchise completely, but it did enough damage to end Mortal Kombat's reign atop the video game world.
